2005 News

July 21, 2005
Bucks County Domestic Relations Recognizes Child Support Enforcement Month

The Bucks County Commissioners issued a proclamation declaring August 2005 as "Child Support Enforcement Month" throughout Bucks County. The proclamation was presented at the commissioners meeting on July 20 at the Bucks County Horse Park in Revere.
From left: Sheriff Edward Donnelly, Deputies Tim Hill and Joe Rafferty, Karen Winkler and Laura LoBianco from Domestic Relations, Commissioner James Cawley, Commissioner Charles Martin and Commissioner Sandra Miller.

The Bucks County Office of Domestic Relations is recognizing August as Child Support Enforcement Month with educational programs and scheduled events.

In April, Sheriff Edward Donnelly, in conjunction with Domestic Relations, initiated a support-warrant program to supplement the Sheriff's Office warrant services division. Two deputy sheriffs are permanently assigned to pursue the current 1,600 support warrants issued for failure to appear for support conferences and court hearings. So far, the two deputy sheriffs, Tim Hill and Joe Rafferty, have cleared over 211 warrants.

Domestic Relations Director Laura LoBianco believes the warrant program proves the office is serious about its mission. "Getting a notice to appear for court is not an invitation. It is a court order and we are determined to enforce these court orders," she said.

Sheriff Donnelly noted, "The cooperation between the Sheriff's Office and Domestic Relations has changed the way people view child support orders. They now know if they don't follow them, a warrant will be issued." He added that he hopes by actively pursuing these warrants, the number of children not receiving needed support will be significantly lowered.

In August, the Office of Domestic Relations plans to hold an open house in its Bristol location and in the Bucks County Courthouse in Doylestown. The events will spotlight the REACH OUT program, which educates parents and others in a user-friendly way about how support orders are established and enforced.

"We know what a difficult time this is for parents, dealing with their children's best interest and the overall need for money to support those interests. The better informed parents are about the process, the more they understand the options available to them," LoBianco said.

Over the next few months, the Bucks County Office of Domestic Relations plans to initiate more new and innovative programs to collect child support in order to remain first in the region, LoBianco added.